Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has exonerated the film ‘Hamare Baarah’ from accusations of negatively portraying the Muslim community and misinterpreting the Quran, citing insufficient evidence to support these claims.
The ruling came after numerous petitions sought to ban the film, starring Annu Kapoor, alleging that it contained offensive content towards Muslims and distorted Quranic teachings. The court, however, found no substance in these allegations.
In its judgment, the High Court emphasized that ‘Hamare Baarah’ is a ‘thought-provoking film’ and acknowledged the discernment of the Indian audience, who are not easily influenced.”
The court noted that the movie aims to empower women, highlighting a scene where a Maulana misinterprets the Quran and a Muslim character challenges this misinterpretation. According to The Indian Express, the court stated, “the movie is, in fact, aimed at the empowerment of women.”
The court urged citizens to critically evaluate such portrayals rather than blindly accepting the opinions of religious figures. The film’s release had previously been delayed to remove objectionable scenes as mandated by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Following these revisions, the Supreme Court intervened in response to petitions from the film’s opponents, further delaying the release and directing the Bombay High Court to take appropriate action.
The division bench, led by Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla, acknowledged that the initial trailer, which was subsequently removed, sparked controversy. The court also fined the film’s producers for releasing the trailer without the necessary CBFC certification.
This decision concludes a legal battle that has stirred discussions on artistic freedom and communal sensitivities in Indian cinema.
